Display and storage assembly kit

ABSTRACT

A storage and display tower assembly transported and distributed in a compact and disassembled kit form in a box. The components thereof are easily and readily assembled to the configuration selected by the user to provide the desired appearance and use. The shelves, pinch clamps, weighted base and first and second sets of rods of the kit are removed from the box. The rods of the first set are threaded into upright securement to the base; a first shelf is slid through its openings on the rods; the lower ends of the second set of rods are threaded on top of the top ends of the respective rods of the first set with a stabilizing and article display shelf sandwiched and fixed between them; and a second shelf is slid through its openings onto the rods of the second set. Using the support clamps, the first and second shelves are mounted at the desired heights to the first and second sets of rods, respectively. Decorative balls, plates and/or lamps can be attached at the top of the tower thereby defined. The sets of rods can consist of three or five rods. For the five rod embodiment the adjustable shelves can be large to having five openings to engage all five rods or can be smaller having only three openings each for side-by-side or staggered placement. The shelves are adapted to store and display various media including video cassettes and compact disc cases as well as books, plants, knick-knacks and other articles in any number of desirable and convenient arrangements. The numbers, sizes and spacings of the shelves can be adjusted from time to time to store and display different articles and/or to simply provide a different look.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/613,926, filed Mar. 11,1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,312.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to assemblies for storing and displayingdifferent items and particularly audio/visual media, such as compactdisks and video cassettes.

Numerous shelving towers and other structures for storing and displayingcompact disks, video cassettes and the like are known. Examples thereofare shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,195,642 to Dardashti and Des. 344,360 toYeh. However, none of the prior art systems (1) has the flexibility toattractively store and display the disks, cassettes and/or the like innumerous different configurations and arrangements as selected by theuser, (2) can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, (3) can betransported, stored and sold in small containers or boxes, and (4) canbe easily assembled by the user into the desired variableconfigurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Directed to remedying the problems and satisfying the needs of the priorart, an adjustable storage and display tower assembly is hereindisclosed. The assembly is provided disassembled and convenientlypackaged in a small box. A first set of rods removed from the box isscrewed upright in spaced parallel relation to the base and a second setis screwed on to the tops of the first set. Sandwiched between thejoined rods at their juncture is a fixed plate shelf. Adjustable plateshelves are slid along the rods to the desired height and held in placewith adjustable clamps on the rods. The clamps thereby define shelfholders. Each set of rods can consist of three or five rods depending onthe desired tower size and configuration. For the five rod embodimentthe fixed shelves preferably engage all five rods and hold themtogether. However, the adjustable shelves can be either large to engageall five rods or small to engage only three or combinations thereof.Third (fourth, etc.) sets of rods can be threaded to the tops of thesecond sets if additional tower height is desired.

A plate can be positioned at the top of the second (or top) set of rodsattractively fixing the tops of the rods together and decorativeelements attached to the rod top ends. Alternatively, a lamp can bemounted at the top of the tower, facing upward, and the lamp cordclamped out of the way to one of the rods.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains from the foregoing description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the components of one storage anddisplay tower assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a partial assembly of thecomponents of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled (three rod) tower assemblystacked two rods high;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled (three rod) tower assemblystacked three rods high with additional adjustable shelves and showingvarious articles stored and displayed on the shelves;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view taken on circle 5 of FIG. 3 andshowing a fixed shelf mounting of the tower assembly;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view taken on circle 6 of FIG. 3 andshowing an adjustable shelf mounting;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 showing an alternative shelfdesign;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the mounting of aball element at the top of the tower assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken on line 12--12of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a bottom portion of an alternative(five rod) tower assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing an alternative baseconfiguration of a five rod tower assembly of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective partially exploded view of an alternative lamptop embodiment of a three rod tower assembly of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lamp cord clamp ofFIG. 15, in place on a tower rod;

FIG. 17 is perspective view similar to FIG. 15 of an alternative lamptop embodiment of a five rod tower assembly;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a five rod tower assembly; and

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the tower assembly of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a number of different embodiments of thepresent invention are illustrated. Two prime advantages of the presentinvention are first that it can be manufactured and provided to theconsumer in small boxes. The small boxes make it easier and cheaper forthe manufacturer, distributor and ultimate user to store, ship anddisplay. The second prime advantage is that the present assembly is veryflexible in its use allowing it to be built and/or also subsequentlymodified and even its height adjusted as needed to accommodate thestorage and display of different articles as needs may vary and also toprovide an alternative lamp arrangement.

One of the more simple embodiments of the present invention isillustrated in disassembled form in FIG. 1 generally at 100 (andassembled in FIG. 4). Referring thereto it is seen that all thecomponents come packaged in a box 102. The components include a heavyweighted base assembly 104, first, second and third sets of (three) rods106, 108, 110, a plurality of shelves 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, a topfixed plate 126, a base plate 130 for placement on the base assembly,three decorative top balls 134, 136, 138, and a plurality of clampsshown generally at 142. As can be understood from FIG. 1, with all thesecomponents disassembled they can be placed and packaged into a smallcontainer such as the box 102 illustrated therein.

The assembly of the storage and tower assembly 100, one embodiment ofwhich is shown in FIG. 4, for example, is relatively easy. It isanticipated that an instruction sheet (not shown) will be provided inthe box 102 explaining the assembly steps. However, simply from anassembled picture such as might be provided on the box 102 itself andfrom examination of the components, most people would be able toassemble this storage and display assembly 100 with relative ease. Theinstruction sheet, for example, can include an exploded perspective viewsuch as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring thereto, it is seen that the weighted base assembly 104 isprovided with three upstanding threaded members 150, 152, 154 over whicha base plate 130 is fitted through its three openings. The first set ofthree rods 106 are therein threaded onto respective ones of the topportions of the threaded members 150, 152, 154 extending up from thebase assembly 104. A first adjustable shelf 114 is slid via its openingsonto and over the three rods with three support clips 142 being firstslid down on the respective rods. These clips 142 then support theadjustable shelf 142 at the desired height and location on the threerods as selected by the user. (Markings can be provided on the rods toshow preferred clip or shelf locations.) One embodiment of the clips 142would allow them to be fitted on the rods 106 without having to slipover one of the ends. This would allow the clips 142 to be attached tothe rods 106 after the rods have been assembled and the shelves 114 inplace should it become necessary to do so. This could be, for example,if the user forgot to first attach the clips or one or more needed to bereplaced.

At the tops of each of the rods of the first set are threading members160, 162, 164 which are threaded into the top threaded openings of therespective rods 106 to extend a slight distance above the top surfacesof the rods as can be understood from the top of left of FIG. 2. A fixedshelf 116 is then placed on top of the first set of rods 106. Itsopenings will be smaller than those of the adjustable shelf 114. Theywill be large enough to pass over the threaded top members 160, 162,164, but small enough so as to rest on the tops of the rods 106. Thatis, they will be supported on the top ledges defined by the tops of therods, as can be understood from FIG. 7. The rods of the second set 108,each of which has threaded opening in its bottom end are then threadedon top of the screw threaded members 160, 162, 164 of the first set 106to extend straight thereabove. Thereby, the fixed shelf 116 will besandwiched between the first and second sets of rods 106, 108 as shownin FIG. 7, for example. The second set of rods 106 will then be linearlyaligned with respective ones of the rods of the first set 104. And thefixed shelf 116 will be sandwiched between the rods. The fixed shelf 116not only provides a display and storage shelf function but also helps tofix the rods 104, 106 in a triangular relationship relative to oneanother.

Adjustable shelves 118 and their clamps or clips 142 will then be fitteddown on the top ends of the second set of rods 108. As shown in FIG. 2,for example, each of the shelves (both the fixed and the adjustableshelves) has a through-opening 180 passing through a rear lip 182, siderims or lips 184, 188 on the two adjacent sides and openings 190, 192through those side lips. Those openings 190, 192 will preferably not becomplete circles spaced from the edges of the shelves but rather willengage the edges and define simple crescent shapes. However, they may befull openings as shown in FIG. 10. The advantage of the crescent shapeopenings will be discussed later with respect to that figure. Thethrough-hole 180 through the folded-over portion 182 of the shelf shouldpass through the same rod as the corresponding through-holes of theother shelves. This is so that the backs of each of these shelves arealigned, and all the shelves face forward in the same direction, asshown in FIG. 3 for example.

If additional height of the tower assembly 100 is desired for aestheticreasons, to provide additional storage space, and/or to raise the lampfor the lamp embodiment (which will be described later), a third (and afourth, etc.) set of rods 110 can be similarly screwed into the top ofthe second set 106 of rods. Similar to the first and second sets of rods106, 108, a fixed plate 120 is sandwiched in between the tops of thesecond set of rods and the bottom of the third set of rods 110. Similaradjustable shelves and clips can be slid into place along the rods ofthe third set 110.

When the desired number of sets of rods or the desired height of thetower have been obtained (and it is anticipated that either two sets orthree sets would be the preferred number), a top structure is attachedto the top set of rods. One top structure embodiment includes the flatplate 126 also having a through-hole 212 and two crescent holes oropenings 214, 216 to mount to the top threaded portions of the top rods.Decorative balls 134, 136, 138 (as shown in isolation in FIG. 1) havingthreaded openings are then threaded into place on the exposed endportions of the top rods, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. Anenlarged cross-sectional view showing the mounting of one of the balls134 and the top plate 126 is provided in FIG. 11. FIG. 3 shows anexample of a three rod embodiment which is stacked two sets of rods 106,108 high with the fixed shelf 116 being shown in detail in FIG. 5 andits mounting shown in cross-section in FIG. 7.

FIG. 4 shows the storage and display assembly of the invention whereineach set of rods 106, 108, 110 consists of three rods and three sets ofthese rods are stacked and secured one on top of the other. In otherwords, the illustration of FIG. 4 is a smaller scale (for drawingconvenience) than the illustration of FIG. 3 since it is essentially onethird taller. FIG. 4 also shows how various articles can be stored anddisplayed on the shelves. Examples of the articles are compact disc (CD)cases 230 which can be stored horizontal flat like in the bottom shelfor on their sides edges as shown in the next shelf, audio cassettes 234as shown in the shelf thereabove, and video cassette boxes 238 as shownin the shelf immediately thereabove. It will be appreciated that therims or lips 184, 188 on the sides of the shelves block the free slidingof the articles off the sides of the shelves especially the smallerarticles. And the back rim 182 prevents a free sliding of the articlesoff the back end of the shelves such as for the cassette disk 230 whenmounted on their edges.

The base assembly 104 itself can come in many shapes and sizes, butshould be wide and long and heavy enough to prevent tipping of theassembly. A number of different shapes of the base assembly asillustrated in the drawings such as in FIGS. 13 and 14 will bediscussed. FIG. 12 shows a partial cross-section through the baseassembly 104 of FIG. 3 and shows that a heavy material such as sand 250is enclosed in a housing 254 and has a top cover 258. Vertical sleeves262 extend through the interior of the base to receive the threadedmembers 150 (or 152 or 154) which are threaded with a nut like members266, 268 to hold the threaded member in place. And the base plate 130 isillustrated on top.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments wherein each set of rods consists ofthree rods. In contrast, FIGS. 13 and 14, for example, show a five rodembodiment. The three rod embodiments are arranged in a triangularrelationship with the apex being the rear of the assembly 100. For thefive rod embodiment, the rods are arranged in a trapezoid shape withfour of the rods defining the corners and the fifth rod being in thecenter of the long front portion of the trapezoid. FIGS. 13 and 14 showexamples of two different base assembly shapes, as shown at 280 and 284,as well as the support plate 130. The five rods are secured one on topof the other similar to the previously-described three rod sets. Thefive rod assembly shown generally at 300 in FIGS. 18 and 19 has two setsof five rods 304, 306.

The five rod assembly 300 is also provided with fixed plate(s) orshelves 312 at the junction between adjacent rods 304, 306. The fixedshelf 312 similarly provides for not only storage and display surfacesbut also helps fix or tie the rods 304, 306 together. While the fixedplate 312 should preferably be large enough to include all five rods,that is, have five openings spaced each for a respective rod, theadjustable plates need not also be large enough to include all fiverods, such as plate 318. Rather, some, all or none may be smaller threerod plates such as are used in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 andshown at 320 and 322, in FIGS. 18 and 19.

By using the smaller three rod plates 320, 322 for the five rod type ofdisplay assemblies, held at the desired location with adjustable clips,in various combinations and arrangements, aesthetically pleasingconfigurations can be provided. It also makes for a configuration whichcan be easily changed to accommodate different storage items. Apreferred embodiment is to stagger the three rod plates 320, 322 such asshown in FIGS. 18 and 19 and the lower portion thereof. They need not bestaggered but can be positioned (horizontally) adjacent one another.However, when they are adjacent, they cannot stick out so far towardseach other as to interfere with each other. In other words, if they hada full width with three full openings 330, 332, 334, such as theembodiment of FIG. 10 shown generally at 340, they would overlap andinterfere with each other. That is why the narrower embodiment of FIG. 9is preferred for use with the five rod embodiment. Even when the plates320, 322 are not placed directly adjacent one another the user may wantto slide one past the other to rearrange the shelves, and the embodimentof FIG. 9 allows for this.

For the three rod embodiment there are certain advantages to using thewider adjustable shelves 340 such as shown in FIG. 10. For manufacturingconvenience, when the manufacturer is manufacturing the kits for boththree and five rod embodiments it is preferable to only make a singledesign of a three rod adjustable shelf, that is one that can be used forboth the three rod and the five rod embodiments. Hence, the shelf ofFIG. 9 with the one through-opening and the two crescent shape sideopenings is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show two sets of five rods 304, 306 stacked one on topof the other with the two smaller adjustable plates 320, 322 at thebottom and a large five hole adjustable plate 318 in the upper portion,held in place with clips (142) or the like. Of course, one or moreadditional sets of five rods can be threaded to the tops of theuppermost set to extend the height of the assembly as may be desired.

The embodiments of FIGS. 18 and 19 show a flat top plate 346 at the topof the upper most rods. This is similar to the top plate shown in FIGS.3 and 4 for the three rod embodiment. It can be a simple flat plateunlike the shelf which has raised rims on the sides and the end.Decorative balls 350 can be threaded on top thereof in an arrangementsimilar to that illustrated in FIG. 11.

Instead of the flat plate and balls as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 18 and 19, alamp embodiment can be used as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17. The FIG. 15embodiment as shown generally at 400 is for the three rod embodiment(s),and the FIG. 17 as shown at 410 is for the five rod embodiment. Each ofthem has a flat plate 420, 430, respectively, fitted onto the top of thetop screws of the uppermost rods. Plain nuts 440, 442 are shown threadedon top of the plates 420, 430 to hold them in place and to provide adecorative more attractive appearance. The plates 420, 430 also have aslot 450, 454 extending from an edge thereof to the center in throughwhich the bottom portion of a upperwardly facing lamp 460, 464 is slid.The lamp 460, 464 has upwardly disposed bowl or shield 470, 474reflecting the light upward against the adjacent ceiling and walls and abulb 480, 484 in the center. Depending down from the shield is athreaded member 490, 494 which fits into the slot 450, 454 and a nut500, 502 is threaded to the bottom of this threaded member on theopposite side of the plate 420, 430 to fix the lamps in place. Theelectrical cord 510, 520 for the lamp 460, 464 can be held out of theway to one of the back rods with a clamp 530, 534 such as shown in FIGS.15 and 17 and shown in greater detail in operation in FIG. 16. Otherclamps or clips can be provided as would be apparent to those skilled inthe art. The clamps 530, 534 not only hold the wire 510, 520 so that itis less visible but also so that it is less likely to become caught orotherwise entangled.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that thereare a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the presentinvention which come within the province of those skilled in the art.However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from thespirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof aslimited solely by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display and storage assembly kit, comprising:acontainer; a base assembly; a first set of rods releasably mountableinto upright, spaced securement on said base assembly; a second set ofrods securable onto tops of respective ones of said rods of said firstset and extending vertically up therefrom; a fixed shelf held in leveldisposition at a juncture between said first and second sets of rods; anadjustable shelf having at least one opening through which at least oneof said rods passes such that said shelf is slidable along said rod; anda support assembly which supports in generally level disposition saidshelf at a desired height on said rods of one of said sets; said baseassembly, said first and second sets of rods, said fixed and adjustableshelves, and said support assembly being stored in said container andremovable therefrom for assembly.
 2. The kit of claim 1 wherein saidcontainer comprises a box.
 3. The kit of claim 1 wherein said adjustableshelf includes said opening being proximate to but spaced from a backedge of said shelf, a first side opening engaging a first side of saidshelf and second side opening engaging an opposite second side of saidshelf.
 4. The kit of claim 1 wherein said support assembly includessupport clips positionable by a user on said rods to support said shelfat the desired height.
 5. A display and storage assembly kit,comprising:a container; a base assembly; a plurality of rods removablyattachable upright to said base assembly; an adjustable shelf having athrough-opening, one of said rods being adapted to pass through saidopening such that said shelf can slide up and down said rod to a desiredlocation along at least some of said rods; and a holder attachable to atleast one of said rods at a location corresponding to the desiredlocation to thereby hold said shelf at the desired location; said baseassembly, said rods, said shelf and said holder being stored in saidcontainer and removable therefrom for assembly into a display andstorage assembly; wherein said opening is proximate to but spaced fromone edge of said shelf, and said shelf includes an indent on anotheredge of said shelf and in which another of said rods slides forpositioning said shelf relative to said rods; and wherein said shelfincludes another indent on a third edge of said shelf opposite to saidanother edge and in which a third of said rods slides for positioningsaid shelf relative to said rods.
 6. The kit of claim 5 wherein saidbase assembly comprises a weighted base assembly.
 7. The kit of claim 6wherein said base assembly has a footprint larger than that of saidshelf.
 8. The kit of claim 5 wherein said shelf comprises a metal shelf.9. The kit of claim 5 wherein each of said rods includes at least tworod portions releasably securable one on top of another.
 10. The kit ofclaim 9 wherein said rod portions are releasably securable by threadedmeans.
 11. The kit of claim 5 wherein said plurality of rods consists ofno more than three rods.
 12. The kit of claim 5 wherein said pluralityof rods consists of no less than five rods.
 13. The kit of claim 5wherein the desired location is selected from a continuum of locationsalong said rods.
 14. A display and storage assembly kit, comprising:acontainer; a base assembly; a plurality of rods removably attachableupright to said base assembly; an adjustable shelf having athrough-opening, one of said rods being adapted to pass through saidopening such that said shelf can slide up and down said rod to a desiredlocation along at least some of said rods; and a holder attachable to atleast one of said rods at a location corresponding to the desiredlocation to thereby hold said shelf at the desired location; said baseassembly, said rods, said shelf and said holder being stored in saidcontainer and removable therefrom for assembly into a display andstorage assembly; wherein said holder comprises a squeeze clamp whichwhen squeezed is slidable along a respective one of said rods and whenreleased is secured to said rod at the corresponding location; andwherein said squeeze clamp is a wire member having an encircling portionencircling said rod by sliding onto an end thereof and a pair ofopposing squeezable arms extending out from said encircling portion. 15.The kit of claim 14 wherein said base assembly comprises a weighted baseassembly.
 16. The kit of claim 15 wherein said base assembly has afootprint larger than that of said shelf.
 17. The kit of claim 14wherein said shelf comprises a metal shelf.
 18. The kit of claim 14wherein each of said rods includes at least two rod portions releasablysecurable one on top of another.
 19. The kit of claim 18 wherein saidrod portions are releasably securable by threaded means.
 20. The kit ofclaim 14 wherein said shelf includes a plate having an article abutmentrear wall and opposing article support side walls.
 21. The kit of claim14 wherein the desired location is selected from a continuum oflocations along said rods.
 22. The kit of claim 14 wherein saidplurality of rods consists of no more than three rods.
 23. The kit ofclaim 14 wherein said plurality of rods consists of no less than fiverods.
 24. A display and storage assembly kit, comprising:a container; abase assembly; a plurality of rods removably attachable upright to saidbase assembly; an adjustable shelf having a through-opening, one of saidrods being adapted to pass through said opening such that said shelf canslide up and down said rod to a desired location along at least some ofsaid rods; a holder attachable to at least one of said rods at alocation corresponding to the desired location to thereby hold saidshelf at the desired location; said base assembly, said rods, said shelfand said holder being stored in said container and removable therefromfor assembly into a display and storage assembly; a plate at tops ofsaid rods which ties at least some of said rods together; said platehaving an opening corresponding to one of said rods; a member at a topof said one of said rods which passes through said plate opening; and anattachment unit which attaches to said member and is positioned at a topside of said plate, said attachment unit comprises a threaded member.25. The kit of claim 24 wherein said shelf includes a plate having anarticle abutment rear wall and opposing article support side walls. 26.The kit of claim 24 wherein the desired location is selected from acontinuum of locations along said rods.
 27. The kit of claim 24 whereinsaid base assembly comprises a weighted base assembly.
 28. The kit ofclaim 27 wherein said base assembly has a footprint larger than that ofsaid shelf.
 29. The kit of claim 24 wherein said shelf comprises a metalshelf.
 30. The kit of claim 24 wherein each of said rods includes atleast two rod portions releasably securable one on top of another. 31.The kit of claim 30 wherein said rod portions are releasably securableby threaded means.
 32. The kit of claim 24 wherein said plurality ofrods consists of no more than three rods.
 33. The kit of claim 24wherein said plurality of rods consists of no less than five rods. 34.The kit of claim 24 wherein said member comprises a top fixed plate. 35.A display and storage assembly kit, comprising:a container; a baseassembly; a plurality of rods removably attachable upright to said baseassembly; an adjustable shelf having a through-opening, one of said rodsbeing adapted to pass through said opening such that said shelf canslide up and down said rod to a desired location along at least some ofsaid rods; and a holder attachable to at least one of said rods at alocation corresponding to the desired location to thereby hold saidshelf at the desired location; said base assembly, said rods, said shelfand said holder being stored in said container and removable therefromfor assembly into a display and storage assembly; and said shelfincludes a flat plate having a folded-over back edge through which saidopening passes and a pair of upturned side lips.
 36. The kit of claim 35wherein the desired location is selected from a continuum of locationsalong said rods.
 37. The kit of claim 35 wherein said plurality of rodsconsists of no more than three rods.
 38. The kit of claim 35 whereinsaid plurality of rods consists of no less than five rods.
 39. The kitof claim 35 wherein said base assembly comprises a weighted baseassembly.
 40. The kit of claim 39 wherein said base assembly has afootprint larger than that of said shelf.
 41. The kit of claim 35wherein said shelf comprises a metal shelf.
 42. The kit of claim 35wherein each of said rods includes at least two rod portions releasablysecurable one on top of another.
 43. The kit of claim 42 wherein saidrod portions are releasably securable by threaded means.
 44. A displayand storage assembly kit, comprising:a container; a base assembly; aplurality of rods removably attachable upright to said base assembly; anadjustable shelf having a through-opening, one of said rods beingadapted to pass through said opening such that said shelf can slide upand down said rod to a desired location along at least some of saidrods; a holder attachable to at least one of said rods at a locationcorresponding to the desired location to thereby hold said shelf at thedesired location; said base assembly, said rods, said shelf and saidholder being stored in said container and removable therefrom forassembly into a display and storage assembly; an upwardly disposed lampsecured at the tops of said rods; and a lamp support plate at the topsof said rods, said lamp support plate having an opening for releasablysecuring said lamp thereto.
 45. The kit of claim 44 wherein said shelfincludes a plate having an article abutment rear wall and opposingarticle support side walls.
 46. The kit of claim 44 wherein said desiredlocation is selected from a continuum of locations along said rods. 47.The kit of claim 44 wherein said base assembly comprises a weighted baseassembly.
 48. The kit of claim 47 wherein said base assembly has afootprint larger than that of said shelf.
 49. The kit of claim 44wherein said shelf comprises a metal shelf.
 50. The kit of claim 44wherein each of said rods includes at least two rod portions releasablysecurable one on top of another.
 51. The kit of claim 50 wherein saidrod portions are releasably securable by threaded means.
 52. The kit ofclaim 44 wherein said plurality of rods consists of no more than threerods.
 53. The kit of claim 44 wherein said plurality of rods consists ofno less than five rods.
 54. A display and storage assembly kit,comprising:a container; a base assembly; a plurality of rods removablyattachable upright to said base assembly; an adjustable shelf having athrough-opening, one of said rods being adapted to pass through saidopening such that said shelf can slide up and down said rod to a desiredlocation along at least some of said rods; a holder attachable to atleast one of said rods at a location corresponding to the desiredlocation to thereby hold said shelf at the desired location; said baseassembly, said rods, said shelf and said holder being stored in saidcontainer and removable therefrom for assembly into a display andstorage assembly; said plurality of rods comprising first, second,third, fourth and fifth rods; said shelf defining a first adjustableshelf which slides on said first, second and third rods; and a secondadjustable shelf which slides on said third, fourth and fifth rods to adesired location.
 55. The kit of claim 54 wherein when said first andsecond shelves are at their respective desired locations, said first andsecond shelves are offset vertically one from another, and furthercomprising a third adjustable shelf which slides on said first, secondand third rods to a desired location, wherein the desired location ofsaid third adjustable shelf is spaced above that of said furtheradjustable shelf with said second adjustable shelf disposed in a planebetween said first and third adjustable shelves.
 56. The kit of claim 54wherein said first adjustable shelf includes a plate having an articleabutment rear wall and opposing article support side walls.
 57. The kitof claim 54 wherein the desired location is selected from a continuum oflocations along said rods.
 58. The kit of claim 54 wherein said baseassembly comprises a weighted base assembly.
 59. The kit of claim 58wherein said base assembly has a footprint larger than that of saidshelf.
 60. The kit of claim 54 wherein each shelf comprises a metalshelf.
 61. The kit of claim 54 wherein each of said rods includes atleast two rod portions releasably securable one on top of another. 62.The kit of claim 61 wherein said rod portions are releasably securableby threaded means.
 63. A display and storage assembly kit, comprising:acontainer; a base assembly; a plurality of rods removably attachableupright to said base assembly, said plurality of rods including first,second and third rods in a triangular arrangement; an adjustable shelfhaving a through-opening, said first rod being adapted to pass throughsaid opening such that said shelf can slide up and down said first rodto a desired location along said first rod; and a holder attachable toat least one of said rods at a location corresponding to the desiredlocation to thereby hold said shelf at the desired location; said baseassembly, said rods, said shelf and said holder being stored in saidcontainer and removable therefrom for assembly into a display andstorage assembly; said through-opening being centered at a rear edge ofsaid shelf and spaced inwardly therefrom; and said second and third rodsbeing positionable in side openings in opposite sides of said shelf. 64.The kit of claim 63 wherein said side openings engage opposite sideedges of said shelf to thereby form respective side indents of saidshelf.
 65. The kit of claim 63 wherein said from side openings arespaced inwardly from respective edges of said shelf to thereby formrespective shelf through-holes.
 66. The kit of claim 63 wherein thedesired location is selected from a continuum of location along saidrods.
 67. The kit of claim 63 wherein said base assembly comprises aweighted base assembly.
 68. The kit of claim 67 wherein said baseassembly has a footprint larger than that of said shelf.
 69. The kit ofclaim 63 wherein said shelf comprises a metal shelf.
 70. The kit ofclaim 63 wherein each of said rods includes at least two rod portionsreleasably securable one on top of another.
 71. The kit of claim 70wherein said rod portions are releasably securable by threaded means.72. The kit of claim 63 wherein said shelf has rear and opposing sidestored-article abutment walls.
 73. A display and storage assembly kit,comprising:a container; a base assembly; a plurality of rods removablyattachable upright to said base assembly; an adjustable shelf having athrough-opening, one of said rods being adapted to pass through saidopening such that said shelf can slide up and down said rod to a desiredlocation along at least some of said rods; a holder attachable to atleast one of said rods at a location corresponding to the desiredlocation to thereby hold said shelf at the desired location; said baseassembly comprises a weighted base assembly having a footprint largerthan that of said shelf; a base plate positionable on said baseassembly, said base plate having base plate holes; and threaded meansfor releasably securing said rods to said base assembly, said threadedmeans passing through said base plate holes; said base assembly, saidrods, said shelf, said holder, said base plate and said threaded meansbeing stored in said container and removable therefrom for assembly intoa display and storage assembly.
 74. The kit of claim 73 wherein saidplurality of rods consists of no more than three rods.
 75. The kit ofclaim 73 wherein said plurality of rods consists of no less than fiverods.
 76. The kit of claim 73 wherein said shelf includes a plate havinga article abutment rear wall and opposing article support side walls.77. The kit of claim 73 wherein the desired location is selected from acontinuum of locations along said rods.
 78. The kit of claim 73 whereinsaid shelf comprises a metal shelf.
 79. The kit of claim 73 wherein eachof said rods includes at least two rod portions releasably securabletogether one on top of another.
 80. The kit of claim 79 wherein said rodportions are releasably securable by threaded means.
 81. The kit ofclaim 73 wherein said threaded means comprise threaded members passingthrough said base assembly and releasably secured in place with nuts.